Snack adapter for carving boards, trays and the like



S. L. GERSON Nov. 25, 1958 SNACK ADAPTER FOR CARVING BOARDS, TRAYS AND THE LIKE Filed July 51, 1956 mvzm'oa SAMUEL L. GERSON ATTYS.

United States Patent SNACK ADAPTER FOR CARVING BOARDS, TRAYS AND THE LIKE Samuel L. Gerson, Wilmington, Del.

Application July 31, 1956, Serial No. 601,314

1 Claim. (Cl. 22446) A principal object of this invention is to provide a novel and highly useful device for serving hors doeuvres or snacks, said device being designed for application to carving boards, trays and platters as a medium for better adapting such receptacles to the serving of such relishes.

The invention will be better understood by reference to the attached drawings wherein:

Fig. 1 is a top plan view of the device;

Fig. 2 is a side elevational view partly in section of the device;

Fig. 3 is a view in perspective of a conventional form of carving board to which the device of Figs. 1 and 2 is applicable, and

Fig. 4 is a transverse sectional view through the assembly of board and device.

With reference to the drawings, the invention contemplates provision of a member 1 which may take any one of a number of desirable shapes, but which in the present instance consists of a simple shell 2 of circular peripheral form and preferably composed of a suitable plastic material. The member 1 is susceptible to moulding in a single piece. In the present instance, as shown in Figs. 1 and 2, it comprises at the underside, two vertical sockets 3, 3 and two webs 4, 4 the function of which is described below. In the present instance also, the member 1 is provided in its upper surface with a plurality of small sockets 5 which in size and depth are adapted to support toothpicks or the like which carry individual elements of hors doeuvres in accordance with a conventional practice.

When placed on a board or other flat support, such for example as a plate, the device presents a desirable ornamental dome-like appearance. Also, when so placed it has the effect of converting the support if in the nature of a carving board or tray for example into an elficient medium for serving hors doeuvres or snacks. It constitutes in fact an efficient means for adapting any flat tray-like receptable to that function.

As illustrative of this function of the device, I show in Fig. 3 a carving board 6 of more or less conventional type rectangular in form in the present instance and composed of wood with an upstanding handle 7 at each end. The board has a gravy we1l8 toward one end and grooves 9, 9 which collectively extend substantially to the entire area of the board and act as channels to direct the juices from the meat to the well 8. The board is also provided with a plurality of upstanding pins 10, these pins being four in number in the present instance and service ing to anchor the meat to the board during the carving operation in known manner.

When the member 1 is placed on the board 6 with one or more of the pins 10 inserted in the sockets 3, and with either or both of the webs 4 in abutment with others of the pins, and with all of the pins embraced within the member, the latter will be held in stable position on the board against inadvertent lateral displacement and will serve also to protect the pins and as a cover to preclude accidental contact with the points of the pins. The member 1 will leave a substantial portion of the board area including the well 8 unobstructed for reception of sliced meats, cheese or other elements of hors doeuvres, and the well 8 is available as a receptacle for sauces for the elements carried by the toothpicks.

While the illustrated embodiment of the invention is designed particularly for use with carving boards of the character shown in Fig. 3, it will be apparent that it may be used as a snack adapter for other types of tray or platter, and that it may be used independently of tray or platter as a means for efficient serving of hors doeuvres. As previously indicated the external shape of the adapter may depart widely from that illustrated. The means for anchoring the adapter on the board is also subject to modifications, and in this respect it may be noted that the use of the webs 4 in lieu, for example, of additional sockets or recesses 3 for reception of the pins has been found to materially facilitate the positioning of the adapter on the board and also adapts the device for use with boards having pin arrangements differing from that shown in the drawings.

I claim:

An adapter for carving boards of the type having up standing meat-anchoring pins to convert the board to a serving tray for hors doeuvres and in combination with said board, and adapter consisting of a thin walled plastic bowl seating in inverted position on the board over said pins, a plurality of anchoring elements depending from the underside of said wall and registering respectively with the said pins of the board to anchor the bowl in desired position against lateral displacement on the board, a plurality of relatively small bosses also depending from the under side of said wall, and apertures in the outer surface of the bowl registered with and extending into said bosses and forming supporting sockets for the ends of tooth picks or the like carrying the hors doeuvres.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 760,578 Steinmetz May 24, 1904 1,135,625 Savin Apr. 13, 1915 1,357,063 Korb Oct. 26, 1920 1,362,012 Koranek Dec. 14, 1920 1,471,122 Greaves Oct. 16, 1923 1,631,827 Lantagne June 7, 1927 1,907,435 Murphy May 9, 1933 1,973,438 Lurba Sept. 11, 1934 2,347,658 Bourne May 2, 1944 2,599,681 Wells June 10, 1952 2,651,422 Erbguth Sept. 8, 1953 2,751,951 Strathaus June 26, 1956 

